LG is back to being profitable in Q3, plans to ship 10 million smartphones in Q2 2013. No WP8 in sight

LG has reported its results for the third quarter of this year (July-September), and it looks like the Korean company is back on track.

After many bad quarters, LG’s mobile division is profitable once again. Granted, its operating profit of 22 billion won (approximately $19.42 million) is quite small, but it’s a start. Interestingly, LG managed to become profitable two quarters before Samsung’s analysts predicted it would. So the turnaround at LG’s mobile arm seems to happen faster than anyone expected.

The company has sold 14 million mobile devices during this quarter, 9% more than in Q2. Unfortunately there’s no breakdown between smartphones and featurephones. Revenues were up compared to the previous quarter by 5%, to 2.45 trillion won ($2.16 billion).

LG wants to sell 10 million smartphones in Q2 2013, which would be just a little over the 8-9 million units that Samsung Securities predicted it would manage to move in the first quarter of next year.

All of these optimistic predictions are thanks to the impending launch of the well-received Optimus G, as well as the oft-leaked Google Nexus 4. Also, LG expects the Optimus Vu 2 to sell very well in its native South Korea.

If you were wondering whether LG would be back in the Windows Phone camp anytime soon, the answer is no. LG has worked with Microsoft for Windows Phone 7 smartphones, but hasn’t launched any new handsets since last year’s Jil Sander Mobile. And the Korean company isn’t planning on releasing a device running Windows Phone 8 for the time being. So there you have it, nice and clear.